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How does your church support congregants who experience job loss?



Topics:Congregational care, Counseling, Outreach, Small group
Filters:Adult ministry, Counseling, Hospitality, Pastor, Pastoral care, Shepherd, Small group leader
Purpose:Ministry
Date Added:July 29, 2008

Total Reader Responses: 5 (see below)
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Every person who goes through a job loss needs two things: support and a network.

Support

Losing a job is the most traumatic experience—after death and divorce—for an individual. It not only hurts financially, but also emotionally. So during this time, more than anything, a person needs support. Where do they get that support? Support best comes in the form of the small group. The vast majority of our attendees at Community Christian Church are in small groups, where they are doing life together. We believe a small group of Christ-followers have everything they need to get each other through anything! The small group is the place where they can go to have people pray with them; talk with them; and help them financially. If the small group finds that it doesn’t have all the resources it needs, then it looks to the larger church to support that group through this tough time.

Network

Once a person recovers emotionally from the shock of job loss, what they now need is a new place of employment. The best network for finding a new job is your local church. The church is a place where people know each other and can recommend each other with a high level of confidence. Almost every week, I get a resume from someone within Community Christian Church that I keep close by until I can pass it along to someone who is looking for that type of individual.

To get people through the trauma of job loss, we need to create churches that provide both emotional and spiritual support, but also a network of opportunity.

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Waltina Hanna   (Guest) Posted: March 18, 2009
I live in Bentonville, AR home to Walmart. We thought we were exempt but 800 folks along with other companies were laid off. Our church pastor, Mike McDaniel had our church start NWA-Hope.org. It was created to assist the folks being laid off. It assists them with many aspects of job loss including; how to cope, how to deal with the family as well as employment seminars. You might take a look at it to get some ideas. Thank you



Jon M. Huegli   (Guest) Posted: October 24, 2008
I've developed a ministry called YourCall. As an organizational psychologist, and having served as a local church pastor, consultant to hundreds of churches across North America, and as an executive in a Christian Bookstore Distribution Organization, I've met with hundreds if Christian professionals who are confused, frustrated, angry about their places in work settings and who are fearful of job loss. As Dave indicates, job loss is traumatic, especially for men. However, chasing down another job is not the answer. The job loss provides a God-given time to grow an intimacy with the Lord and to learn more about work as one part of a life calling. It is a time to help folks focus on addressing balancing work with other life calling life sectors. Folks experiencing job loss must first learn about themselves and their gifts and talents mix, their preferences for kinds of work settings, leadership and cultures. We help folks address these issues with prayerful support & guidance.



Pablo Villagomez   (Guest) Posted: August 02, 2008
Hi! I assist to the church "La Comunidad " in La Paz , Bolivia. Actually I work independently at home. I´m artist, painter and sometimes I do get work, sometimes I do not. Sometimes I do paintings for the church and outside it, but this is not a regular job and I think maybe, our Lord has another plan for me, serving Him. My question is:¿Can be consider my job as an artist, useful , when it doesn´t get regular payment or employment? God bless you , thank you!



kini   (Guest) Posted: July 31, 2008
useful piece of advise.I shall be sure use it when the need arises.



Jerry Faruk   (Guest) Posted: July 31, 2008
I went through the experience of job loss without knowing these facts.It was very hard because I did not have a small group that appreciated what I was going through. After going througth this short but helpful notes I am going to explore the possibilty of starting a support group in my local church made up of people like me who have been on that road before. Thank you.



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